Michelle's Reviews > This Day Changes Everything

I’m starting to see that Edward Underhill really is the type of author who knows exactly how to pull at your heartstrings but make your entire being happy at the same time. I was lucky enough to also get an advance copy of his first work, ‘Always The Almost’ last year and both stories have brought me so much joy.

At the root of the story is discovering who you are, very coming of age in a time when it’s sometimes difficult to get others to understand. I’ve said it before but stories like these, that unpack the very real turmoil queer teens go through, is more important than ever. They need to be heard. As someone who grew up as a queer teen with no sense of what that meant or who that made me and not knowing who would accept me, Abby’s story especially hits me.

Both Abby and Leo are lost but in very different ways. It takes New York, one of the most magical places in the world to me, and it takes you on a whirlwind of adventures in such a short span of time. Both lead characters are incredibly endearing and as much as I adore the romance aspect, the bonds of their friendship were also very strong. The representation was beautiful — finding space for trans youth and also kids who might not know where they fall yet and that’s okay. It details that happiness isn’t dependent on a label and as long you are true to yourself, then there’s nothing else to worry about. That bookstore scene will stick with me and it made me so giddy, I can’t even properly explain it.

Using New York City as a backdrop, as cliche as it might be, really adds to the whimsicality of the narrative. It’s so freeing and beautiful, taking you through ups and downs with the same lifts and dips as the marching band music Abby and Leo play. You feel it and it doesn’t have to be the most realistic or plausible for it to feel that way. Sometimes believing in a little magic is what helps us create that magic in our every day lives and you get that theme throughout the entire novel. No matter what age you are or how you describe yourself, there is a slice of happiness to be found in this book. In the span of 24 hours. Not to mention, the ending had my heart soaring to outer space.

Extra shoutout to the supporting friend group who are exactly the kind of people you want on your side and when you’re two teenagers running around in New York unsupervised. I couldn’t adore them more if I tried.

Thank you always to St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books for providing me with an advanced copy for reviewing purposes!